MADINAH – He is old and his hands have been tied with white ropes to his bed inside King Fahd Hospital's emergency unit. Anyone who passes by him would look surprised and perplexed, trying to figure out what is going on. Whenever the old man pulls his bed curtains to take a look at the hospital's patients or visitors, nurses and doctors in the unit run toward him and prevent him from doing so, as if they are trying to hide him so that no one will see him. They draw back the curtains. Okaz/Saudi Gazette reporter visited the old man and noticed that he was wearing a pink patient gown, just like the one patients are required to put on before a surgery. His bed was at the end corner of the unit. Once nurses and doctors had seen the reporter, they asked him to leave right away. The doctor who supervises the unit said he did not know anything about the old man except that he was admitted four months ago following a traffic accident. He added the old man did not sustain any major injuries and was discharged from the hospital after doctors had ensured that his condition was stable. He said: “This is all I know. I don't know what happened afterwards.” A nurse, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Okaz/Saudi Gazette that the old man was supposed to leave the hospital 40 days ago. However, he refused to. Consequently, local authorities were contacted to deal with his case, but no one responded. She added: “I don't know why no one responded although the old man is in good health and mentally sound.” Okaz/Saudi Gazette spoke to Dr. Muhammad Al-Shalahi, Assistant Director of Madinah Health Affairs in charge of treatment services. He said: “The old man comes and leaves the hospital whenever he likes. In fact, he caused us a lot of trouble during the last Haj season.” Al-Shalahi said the hospital has provided the old man with necessary healthcare services but still he refuses to go home.
